If you have ever tried to make a latte without coffee equipment, you know just how frustrating the process can be.

For cappuccino and latte lovers, it gets tiring, spending money on a cup of coffee daily. You can save both money and time by purchasing your own Milk frother, which makes it possible to make a coffeehouse-like beverage anytime.

Perfectly frothed milk, just like the world’s best coffee syrup, can make for a great cup of espresso-based drink such as cappuccinos and lattes. Due to that, Milk Frothers tend to be expensive, but you can still find one that is affordable and meets all your needs.

What Is a Milk Frother

If you have ever been to large coffee houses like Starbucks and Costa, then you have experienced a milk frother product at some point. A milk frother is a type of tool that takes hot and cold milk, adds air into it, which turns the milk into a thick foam.

The foam is then used when making traditional Italian coffees such as lattes and cappuccinos or other coffees with lower acidity than usual. Froth milk can be the perfect added layer to any beverage to be enjoyed during summer or winter.

It adds not only richness to the milk but texture as well, which is the best way to take your beverages to the next level and experiment with different espresso styles.

Benefits of Using a Milk Frother

If you are a cappuccino or latte lover, then you might want to save yourself time and money by making your own beverages at home, something that is only possible with a milk frother.

With that in mind, here are a few benefits of using a milk frother that you may not be aware of:

Adds Richness to the Milk

Rather than just adding plain milk to your coffee, a milk frother helps add creaminess as well as an extra dimension to your beverage. The end result is a product that can be added to any kind of beverage to add richness and flavor.

Can Be Used to Make Different Types of Beverages

A milk frother is designed to create frothy milk for cappuccinos and lattes. However, the tool can do so much more.

Depending on the model, there are different settings for hot froth, hot milk, and even cold froth, which makes it possible to make any kind of drink.

And whether you are on a ketogenic diet where bulletproof coffee is a part of a diet or only take premium vegan coffee creamer, there is no limit to how many beverages you can make with a milk frother.

Safe to Use

Just like mugs from stainless steel are the safest, when it comes to the different types of milk frothers, whether handheld, hand pump, or battery-powered, there are no safety cautions when using them.

When it comes to electric frothers, only the general safety precautions regarding the use of electric appliances apply.

Convenient and Easy to Use

Milk frothers are designed in such a way that they are easy to use, even for beginners. The only complicated milk frother is the espresso machine, which requires special instructions to use.

Works Fast

If you have ever been in line at a coffee house when it’s crowded, you know just how frustrating the whole experience can be. A milk frother is designed in such a way that it works fast, ensuring that you are enjoying your beverage in the shortest time possible.

Little Maintenance Required

While making your own lattes and cappuccinos can be fun, cleaning is not as enjoyable. Luckily, most milk frothers are easy to not only clean but maintain.

Advanced, as well as automatic milk frothers such as electric milk frothers and espresso machines, may require a little maintenance, but most of them come with non-stick interiors as well as stainless steel housing that makes cleaning easy.

Portability

The best thing about milk frothers is that they are portable. As such, you can take them with you anywhere, including the office, where you get to enjoy your favorite beverage hassle-free.

How Does a Milk Frother Work

Milk frothers work by forcefully spinning milk using a coiled whisk. Some milk frothers also push steam through the milk, which creates bubbles giving the milk a creamy feel.

They can be used with different milk types from regular to non-dairy alternatives. However, frothing is different depending on the fat content of the milk, where some will froth much better than others.

Every frothing tool works the same way, which results in milk aeration by creating as much air as possible. This ends up producing bubbles within the milk, which makes the texture lighter while increasing the volume.

If you are looking for diversity in your beverages when it comes to instant caffeinated drinks, you can’t go wrong with a milk frother. Hot chocolate K-cups don’t require milk, for instance, and you get to make different blends.

Pros and Cons of a Milk Frother

Just like with other kitchen appliances, milk frothers have advantages and disadvantages that you should be aware of before you make a purchase.

Pros

• Milk frothers are usually quite affordable such that you will always find a frother that fits into your budget.
• Handheld and hand pump milk frothers are easy to use and maintain.
• At the end of the day, milk frothers save not only time but the money that you would have spent in a coffee shop for the same beverage.
• The fact that most milk frothers are portable adds to the convenience of the device.

Cons

• Using a manual frother means that you get to rely only on your own strength which can be cumbersome at the end of the day.
• On the other hand, electric or automatic milk frothers can only be used with electricity, which spells doom when in a blackout.
• Capacity and usage frequency of handheld and hand pump frothers are wanting and limits you to a few cups per serving.

Types of Milk Frothers

When it comes to milk frothers, you can either get an automatic milk frother or a handheld one. Each type comes with its advantages and disadvantages that you need to be aware of before you make a purchase.

Handheld Frothers

Hand-held milk frothers tend to be battery operated whisks that are used directly in a cup of milk to froth it. They work like small immersion blenders.

The whisk spins continuously and through a combination of up and down motions, the air is whipped into the milk turning it creamy.

Pros

• Handheld milk frothers are compact as well as affordable.
• They are convenient in that they can be used for other light whisking duties such as matcha, eggs, and dressings.
• The resulting milk after whisking is usually light and foamy with large bubbles, which is just perfect for cappuccinos.
• They are very easy to clean and maintain.

Cons

• Since they use batteries, you are forced to keep replacing them, or worse, the batteries may run out when you are frothing.
• Milk tends to spatter since such milk frothers don’t come with lids.
• They are not designed to heat or cool milk, which makes it impossible to enjoy a cold or hot cup of latte.
• The lack of precision when frothing doesn’t give the milk that much texture.

Automatic Frothers

Automatic frothers are usually electric powered jugs that come with an induction whisk on the inside that heats the milk and spins it to create a smooth and even foam. Such milk frothers are also capable of frothing cold milk.

Pros

• Unlike their hand-held counterparts, automatic frothers make high quality frothed milk.
• They are easy to use in that all you need to do is to add milk and just push the button to start frothing.

Cons

• They are bigger, which means that they occupy more space than hand-held ones.
• They can only froth a finite amount at a time, usually 8 ounces.
• They are difficult to hand wash, but some models are dishwasher safe.

How to Choose the Best Milk Frother

If you are new to milk frothers, you might feel a little intimidated by all the models in the market. Fortunately, here is a guide that you can use when you are buying a milk frother so that you get something that not only fits into your budget but works for you.

Type

Milk frothers come in two types; jug style and handheld ones. Handheld milk frothers as the name suggests require to be held by hand as they are used.

They don’t come with a container and due to that tend to be relatively cheap. Jug-style frothers on the other hand are usually electric and come with a beaker or a container and a whisk.

A majority of them make use of cooling as well as heating elements such that you don’t need to heat or cool the milk separately. When it comes to pricing handheld milk frothers are cheaper. They also tend to be light in weight and if they are battery powered, they are portable too.

Types of Milk

Just like a percolator brews best smelling coffee, when it comes to coffee toppings, they go beyond a cow’s milk. The unique tastes of different milk varieties from coconut to soy, hemp, and almond make the toppings all the more interesting.

As such, when you are buying a milk frother, you need to ensure that the machine you are getting can froth your kind of milk.

Temperature

A warm topping layer works best on a cold day but the same cannot be said for when temperatures change and it’s hot outside. When it comes to milk frothers, some, especially the automatic ones, have built-in temperature control so that you can either froth hot or cool milk.

Handheld milk frothers don’t have this option and you may be forced to cool or heat the milk separately before frothing.

At the end of the day, if you are looking for convenience, you are better off adding a few dollars and buying an electric milk frother that you can use for hot or cold beverages.

Froth Speed

A manual milk frother can get your milk frothing in as little as 15 seconds. The cheaper versions, however, can take up to a minute and a half to fully froth your milk.

At the end of the day, it’s all about the froth speed and what works for you. A full automatic milk frother, for instance, will froth as well as heat milk in 90 seconds or less.

Such frothers also have temperature control settings giving you control over the temperature of your froth.

Capacity

If you are looking for a milk frother that meets all your needs and those of your family members, then one thing that you need to consider is the capacity of the frother.

Most of the time, capacity is expressed in millimeters and it is usually the volume of milk that you can froth with a given device. Since most units especially the automatic ones can be used to heat milk, you need to find out how much milk the unit you are about to buy can hold in heating mode.

On average, the best milk frothers can hold anywhere between 100 to 200ml of foam and 200 to 500ml of milk in heating mode.

Ease of Use

Most milk frothers are ergonomic but it is still important that you go for a device that is easy to use to save you as much time as possible.

With that in mind, you must find out how to use the milk frother as well as the control panel. You also need to confirm how long it takes to froth milk. If it takes longer, you are better off going for another device.

Ease of Cleaning

Just like other kitchen appliances, a milk frother requires cleaning after use and the last thing you need is a device that is difficult to clean.

To avoid wasting your time, go for a milk frother that is easy to maintain. Models that have dishwasher compatible pitchers, lids, and whisks are ideal. You might also want to go with a device that has a non-stick surface. 

Features

It is very important that you consider the other features that a milk frother offers before you make a purchase. In such a case, the more features the device has, the more effective it will be.

A good milk frother should come with temperature control so that you can change the settings to meet your needs at different times. It should also allow you to make both cold and hot froths. Another feature that will give you value for your money is the automatic-shutoff function.

Accessories

The accessories that come with a milk frother are just as important as the milk frother itself. While most models come with only one whip, some models come with different whips that make it easy to create different types of foams.

Price

If you have never bought a milk frother before, the prices might surprise you. If you are not careful, you might end up buying a basic milk frother at an exaggerated price for additional features that you may never need.

As such, you need to make your needs as clear as possible and decide on why you need a milk frother.

Do you need one that you can use to froth milk only or are you looking for something that can heat and cool down milk as well? Amazon offers subscriptions on many of their coffees if you are on a budget.

How to Use Milk Frother

Step 1 – Buy fresh milk

When it comes to frothing, you need to check the expiration date of the milk you are buying. Go for milk whose expiry date is not close. Older milk tends to have more glycerol, which is a natural product that makes it hard for frothed milk to hold bubbles.

Step 2 – Use skim milk if you are a beginner

As you learn how to froth, you might want to swap in skim for higher fat milk. This is because the chemical structure of skim milk is usually much better at holding foam even at room temperature.

Step 3 – Add the liquid into the frother

Add the milk into a frother and turn it on. Hold the liquid for 30 seconds until you see air being pushed into the liquid and foam beginning to appear at the top.

Step 4 – Speeding up the frothing

The best way to speed up the frothing is to run the frother at the top of the milk, up and down so that air is forced more quickly through the layers to create foam quickly. Ensure that you turn the frother off to avoid the milk becoming too foamy at the top.

Step 5 – When using a manual frother

If you are using a handheld frother, then you will be hand-pumping the air into the milk. As you do this, you will notice foam and bubbles begin to form at the top.

How to Clean Milk Frother

When it comes to cleaning a milk frother there are different ways of doing it, depending on whether you are using a hand-held frother or an automatic one.

Step 1 – Turn the milk frother off

The first thing you need to do is to turn off the frother. In the case of electric ones, unplug the device and allow it to cool.

Step 2 – Start by cleaning the whisk

Hold the whisk under the faucet and then hand wash it using warm water. Be gentle when you are cleaning around the coil. If there are any milk residues, you can use a brush to clean them.

Step 3 – Place the frother in warm water

After doing this, turn it on and give it a thorough cleaning using a thick cleaning detergent so that milk deposits don’t form.

Step 4 – Add a soapy solution

Add some soapy solution in hot water and then dip the whisk in. Turn the frother on for a couple of seconds, ensuring that you keep the electric parts away from water.

Step 5 – Rinse under running water

After that, proceed to rinse the frother under running water. You can also immerse it in pure water and turn it on. Allow the device to work for about 15 seconds to remove any cleaning agent residues that may be remaining. Repeat this process several times, using clear water every time.

Step 6 – Turn the frother on

This is to allow the whisk to dry. If there are any uncleaned spots on the handle, just wipe them with a damp cloth. After that, clean the cord with a wet cloth and use a paper towel to dry it.

Does More Spending Mean More Quality

When it comes to milk frothers, while most are expensive, in some way more spending does not mean more quality. If you are new to milk frothers, the prices at first might end up overwhelming you and if you are not careful you could end up overspending on a basic frother for additional features that you will never use.

Milk frothers are divided into electric and handheld ones. Handheld frothers rely on your strength and therefore tend to be cheap. Automatic or electric frothers, on the other hand, are pricier.

When you are buying a milk frother, decide on the features that are important to you so that you don’t end up buying a frother that you will rarely use. There is an advantage, however, to spending more on electric frothers than manual ones.

While electric milk frothers are difficult to clean, their advantages outweigh the disadvantages and they give you more value for your money at the end of the day.

Do’s and Don’ts With a Milk Frother

• Do know the quantity. There is a reason why manufacturers indicate the minimum and maximum capacity. As such, if you end up crossing the capacity because you have an extra guest, you might end up messing up the whole process and in some cases damaging the frother.
• When using a handheld frother, do use a cold jug as well as milk directly from the refrigerator.
• Do use skim milk if you are new to frothing and proceed to other milk as you gain experience using a milk frother.
• Don’t over-froth. In as much as using a milk frother is enjoyable especially when the foam begins to foam you need to learn when to stop. Over-frothing will end up killing the air bubbles and you might have to start the whole process over.
• Don’t spend too much on a frothing machine since even the most basic machines can create the perfect froth.

FAQ About Milk Frothers

Does whole milk or skim milk froth better?

In some way, whole milk froths better than skim milk. This is because whole milk produces softer, creamier as well as thicker foam. The rich and creamy taste is one of a kind and the consistency of the foam tends to get firmer as you continue drinking the coffee. Skim milk on the other hand while it produces more foam, tends to have larger bubbles, and a neutral taste. The foam also loses its suppleness after some time becoming dry and stiff.

When to use milk frother?

A milk frother can be used at any time whether you want to make a cool drink during summer or a hot beverage during winter.

Which milk frother makes the hottest milk?

When it comes to the best milk frother, nothing comes close to the Breville Milk Cafe. It is more expensive than others, but it’s the most functional and tends to heat milk the hottest.

Why is my milk frother not frothing?

If your milk frother is not frothing it could be due to a number of reasons. For one your milk might be having too much fat. With such milk, the bubbles are not supported and the froth ends up being too flat.

Can a milk frother whip cream and eggs?

Yes, a milk frother can be used to make whipped cream and eggs. Just pour a little whipping cream and eggs into a small bowl and then use the milk frother for a minute.

Can you use a milk frother to make whipped coffee?

Yes, a milk frother can be used to make whipped coffee. Pour a small amount of coffee into a separate cup and then froth the milk until it is thick and foamy. After that, combine the milk and coffee. If you want a foamier latte, continue frothing until you get your desired foam and thickness.

Can you use a milk frother with creamer?

A milk frother can be used with a creamer. When you are using coffee creamer, the foam tends to be less thick as well as dense than whole milk, though.

Where can I buy milk frother?

You can buy a milk frother at any kitchen appliances store or in online shops like Amazon.

Conclusion

If you are tired of spending time and money just to enjoy a decent cup of cappuccino or latte, then you are better off investing in your own milk frother. Milk frothers can either be manual or automatic and the one you choose will depend on your personal preferences. One thing that is common with all milk frothers is that they are fast and convenient to use and you will be enjoying either a hot or cold cup of your favorite beverage in no time.

Photos from: [email protected] / depositphotos.com and cqfotografie / depositphotos.com.

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